self care thoughts and tips

Hello everyone, I hope you’re having a wonderful week.

Something I’ve been thinking about a lot recently, which is also very topical, is the concept of self care.

Self care, like productivity, is a bit of a funny topic for me. On one hand, I do sort of think that everyone bangs on about self care rather too much. Over doing and over thinking self care has the potential to stop us from just ‘getting on with it’ as it has the ability to make us become too self absorbed and inward focussing.

However, there’s no denying that self care is invaluable to feeling good about yourself and remembering your own worth as a human being. For me personally, self care is absolutely fantastic for my happiness and development, as long as I don’t get too caught up in it. Therefore, in the past few days I’ve been thinking about self care tips that I truly benefit from; whether they be mentally/ spiritually focussed or practical, pampering sort of things.

Let me know if any of these are something you like to do too!

Stop feeling sorry for myself

So this might not seem like your usual self care advice, but it really works for me and I think it’s something that will actually resonate with a lot of people. I’m a complete sucker for holding my very own pity party. Something problematic will happen and I will immediately downward spiral into feeling painfully sorry for myself and how ‘unfair’ my life might be. For example, my friend got a job the other day which is paid significantly more than I am currently paid and from my perspective, I did not feel like she had put in any more effort than I had to find this job and I felt crap and so sorry for myself. Well, firstly, how I am to know how much effort she put in? Secondly, I should just be happy for my friend. And thirdly? I MUST STOP FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF. Feeling sorry for oneself creates all round negative vibes. It puts me in a very negative and unproductive head space for everything else in my life. Furthermore, instead of feeling sorry for myself, I should use the situation that is causing this reaction for good, i.e. to spur me on to get a better job or better myself in some way. Because realistically, what does feeling sorry for yourself ACTUALLY achieve other than sadness or anger?

Go on a walk

Pretty standard self care, but a walk rights many a wrong. I’m not about to suggest to you or myself to go on a run or go to the gym, because as great as that is, a lot of the time you just don’t feel like doing that. A walk is great because you are exercising and it doesn’t require great big heaps of energy which you probably don’t have if you’re already feeling a bit meh. It is also means you get some fresh air, so double plus. A walk literally always clears my head and allows me to have some much needed thinking time. But if you don’t really feel like thinking then you can always listen to a podcast or something to absorb yourself in. Or go on a walk with a friend or like, your mum so then you can just talk to them or listen to them. The benefits of a walk are pretty obvious but I’ll still recommend them since they always sort me out. If I’m feeling a little bit irritable, sad or annoyed about something, a 15 minute walk will suddenly give me a fresh perspective…. or it’ll give me the perfect response in an argument. Depends really.

Don’t go on your phone for a whole evening

Ok, maybe use it a couple of times. If you’re anything like me, you might sit down to watch a TV program with your friend/ family and then spend the whole time on your phone, probably meaninglessly scrolling through instagram. Before you know it, 3 people have been killed in this new BBC spy program and you haven’t the faintest clue as to why and what the plot entails. Recently, I’ve taken to coming home from work, replying to a few texts from important people such as my boyfriend and then putting my phone in a drawer or shut somewhere I won’t go and then getting on with my evening. It’s so refreshing; I feel completely involved with my family and my conversations and I truly enjoy my evenings, instead of them passing in a haze of whatsapp and instagram. I also find my phone quite pressurising; constant messages from group chats or friends who feel the need to have 24/7 contact make you feel as if you have to be always on the ball and communicating. I feel so much clearer without my phone and less stressed. Also, it’s crucial for me to spend time off my phone just before I go to sleep, so I’m always trying to read before I turn my light out. Unfortunately, I have this weird obsession with having to check my phone right before I sleep which I’m trying to beat, as I’m convinced it makes it harder for me to go to sleep.

Moisturise

Okay, bit of a different one to the rest but still vitally important. Since I was young, I’ve always been taught by my mum the importance of moisturising, whether that be your face, hands, elbows or whole body. It sounds silly, but it is actually so beneficial and it makes you feel better. There’s nothing better than getting into bed with a freshly moisturised face and body, feeling all soft and smooth (maybe a bit sticky!). The benefits it will reap in older age are probably the main thing to recommend, as I’m sure you all know. It’s good to know you’re getting ahead for the future! Plus, I don’t know about you, but I definitely feel like I have my life together when I’m all moisturised. Because, let’s face it, moisturising your whole body is a SERIOUS chore. Not gonna lie, I don’t do this regularly enough. I try to keep moisturiser beside my bed for my hands and elbows, so at least I’m getting there.

That’s it for now, in a similar vein I might do a post in the future about personal things that make me feel like I have my life together, if that would interest anyone?

Maybe these tips might seem a little silly, but they’re (currently) the most important self care things I try to do for myself. I think they’re reasonable and attainable, without being pretentious or overwhelming self absorbed. Let me know what you do to ‘self care’!

5 Comments

I feel the same way you do about this topic. I think self care is important, but you can’t fall too much into the pattern or else it may be hard to go about everyday life. I think little things here are there, are what actually count. I got my nails done the other day for the first time in about three months because I’ve been so busy with school and work and those thirty minutes were sooo nice! I loved this post!!! I also LOVE the tip about going on a walk. Its a fact that excercise helps people feel happier!

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About me

I’m a bit lost right now in post – graduation limbo, so I’m setting up this blog as a creative output and essentially a sort of diary of my thoughts, feelings, current fashion and beauty obsessions, a bit of cooking and some life tips. I’m also pretty sure a lot of the content will be relatable for others in a similar situation (if anyone stumbles across grad girl) so do let me know if anything resonates !